Reflection 12

It was amazing to know that there is an influential movement in our time before. This movement was not interested in abstract philosophy but in personal renewal, individual growth in holiness and religious experience. It was good to know that there was a time before that people were given the privileged to develop and grow in their spiritual life. We have observed and found particular people in this time. These people were German Pietist leaders Phillip Jakob Spener and August Hermann Francke, and how they proposed practical steps for ecclesial and social reform, shunned unnecessary conflict, and emphasized the Christian virtues of love and hope.

Though their work was not that easy but we can see that they were able to endure and persevere just to stand to their beliefs. It is our tendency many times that we want to give up and not finish what we have started but with Spener and Francke, they made it. Despite of challenges they faced in their lives, still they continue especially in their spiritual growth in the Jesus Christ. I am thankful that studying this subject and the happenings are not a waste because I have learned so much.

In my study of Pietism, not only have I been able to research and learn more about the history and theology of the Pietism movement, but I also have been able to learn much about myself and, especially, my own theological beliefs. The past year of my life has provided me with an opportunity for spiritual growth like never before. I found that my initial childhood beliefs needed to be broken down in order to rebuild a faith of my own. In this challenge, I have learned of my internal desire for a faith breathed through social action. 

Reflection 11

What a privilege for all of us to know this inspiring and admirable person who contributed much in our history. Without this subject, I would not be able to appreciate and love what the people did before and their works. I would like all of us to know that this person had much to do in our history today. Without him, then there would not be mass of people converted to Christianity and he would not be one of the advocate in spreading the “Great Awakening.” Over the last few weeks I’ve been re-reading the life of George Whitefield one the greatest evangelist that brought revival to England and America in the 18^th century. Whitefield was an amazing preacher who preached anything up to 40 hours a week going from town to town, speaking to men and women in the churches and in the fields. And every time he preached, many people will hear his voice and the message he spoke. The people did not only listened to him but they also decided to put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The secret to his ministry lay I believe in his personal devotion and walk with God.

The life of George Whitefield is a very great example in terms of personal devotion and walk with God. It just amazing to know that there are people who are very eager and desiring to have their intimate relationship with God. It is also inspiring because George Whitefield did not keep his faith for himself only but he shared it to others. We can see that he saw the needs of the people, that they were looking and desiring for the truth. So that was the reason that he loved to preach and as what I have learned in the class that he preached more than 18,000 sermons. Isn't it amazing? I am amazed that he was able to preach this number of sermons and what was amazing also was that 78 of them were published. I really salute George Whitefield of what he did and what he contributed before.

Here is the lesson I learn from this. Until we begin to scrutinize our motives, our hearts, our attitudes, our actions, we remain blind to our sinfulness and to the ongoing need to repent and live by God’s sovereign grace in our lives. Though we are free from enslavement to the world, the devil and our sinful nature, the shadow of our old nature still seeks to enslave us. And unless we are diligent and watchful we will easily fall back into our old pattern of life. And so more than anything else the regular spiritual discipline of searching and examining our hearts intentionally and diligently leads us to depend all the more on the cross of Jesus, reminding us of what we should be free from and that we are no longer enslaved. That should then bring us back time and time again to repentance and faith constantly bringing our lives under His Sovereign grace. I believe that’s what it means to walk with Jesus and to grow to be more like Jesus. We want to not just follow Jesus, we also want to grow to be more like him, and to do that we must put off our old life and put on our new life.

Reflection 10

It seems like it was very difficult to live during the Middle Ages. There was so much turmoil, sickness, and destruction all across Europe. The rich became richer as the poor became poorer, and the economy was a wreck. It must have been very difficult for most of the population, who were peasants, to live. They were starving, angry, and rebellious. After learning about the Middle Ages, I'm glad I didn't live during that time period. To actually be John Wycliffe would be a nightmare. I would live in constant fear of being arrested or assassinated. It would also be frustrating to be John, since even though he had followers little was being done about his cause. Often times it seemed as though his message was not received well, and he had many enemies. John Wycliffe had a very difficult life, but there is a lot to be learned from him. He is a living example of the fact that everyone should stand up for what they believe in, and know to be right. He never lost hope in his cause, and worked hard throughout his life to spread his message. John also teaches the importance of helping others. He was constantly asking the church to give money to the starving peasants, and he rewrote the entire Bible in English and made it available to the public, so peasants could have a personal relationship with God.

After learning all about John Wycliffe, I came to really like him and respect all that he did. I loved the way that John always stood up for what he believed in and was not afraid to express his opinions. Even though the Church was continually working to have him arrested or assassinated he didn't back down.. He continued to preach and spread his message. I thought that John Wycliffe did make good decisions, since he always did what was right. Even though it was a risk to his life, he spoke out against the Church and called for Parliament to help fix it. He also made the Bible available to common people in English, which was a great decision on his part. Common people deserve to be able to read the Word of God any time they want to.

I'm not sure I would have had the courage to do the same things that John Wycliffe did. I don't think I would be brave enough to put my life a stake just to express my opinions and try to reform the Church. I think all that John Wycliffe did was extremely impressive, and his actions will be admired and respected forever. But I hope and I pray that God will use my life to become a blessing to other people and when people will see me, they will glorify and praise the Father above because my life becomes a light to them.

Reflection 9

 It's just amazing to know about William Carey and his contributions especially in our history. Before, I just heard of his name and he was a stranger to me during that time. Maybe I did not desire to know him also because before I really did not like history. But now, it was changed. The more I learn about history, the more I am interested of knowing and learning more. I am glad about the life of William Carey because he was a great example of perseverance and faith. I cannot imagined how he overcame all the challenges he faced in his life. His wife became insane and three of his children died. But despite of these trials and pains in life, he did not surrender but instead continue to believe in the working of God. Even in difficulties in life, we can see that William Carey had been blessed by God through his ministry. As what we all know that he was ministering to the people in India. We can see successes and impact he brought to the lives of the people in India. He marked a major milestone in the history especially of Christian missions. He was even known as the “Father of Faith Missions.”

As I reflect his life to my life, somehow it is different. In my life before and even now, I experience trials and challenges in life, but what makes me different from William Carey is that every times trials and challenges come, my tendency is to withdraw from them. I have the attitude sometimes to surrender or give up. But when I knew about the life of William, I was encouraged to change my attitude especially towards trials and challenges in life. It changes my perspective in serving the Lord. Before, I had this thinking that when I serve God, then things would be easy but I realized that it was not easy and light. It was a big spank to me knowing that when serving the Lord, then there's no difficulties but I was wrong. I was glad that I came to know this person, William Carey, and helped me realized the way on how I think and behave.

Since I have learned many lessons in the life of William Carey, I am motivated and encouraged to accept joyfully and cheerfully the difficulties and challenges that will come in my life especially when serving God. I have learned also to trust and depend in God and not on my own. I will believe and not doubt that God will be able to provide everything I need and will give glory and honor to Him through my service.

Reflection 8

 It was interesting to know these very significant people in history namely Erasmus, Zwingli, and Calvin. Before I studied the subject, I just heard these names from my teachers and classmates before but I really did not know who they really were. I was thankful because I knew these people because of having the interest to know and learn from their lives. I knew who they were, their contributions, and their impact in our history. But the person that strucked me the most was John Calvin. When one of my classmates asked question who was JC? At first, I was confused who was JC but when she told us that it was John Calvin, all I remembered about him was that he was an author and our very known belief today called “TULIP.” As we all know that he was against Arius because of some beliefs that were different from his. It is just inspiring and encouraging to know that in our history, we had John Calvin as one of the very well-known theologian in his time. He was very loyal to what the Scriptures said and be able to obey them.

As I put on my shoe to Calvin's, it was very different because in his time, he was very known and was successful man knowing that he wrote many books. Unlike me, I am not that well-known and not yet successful in terms of career. But I am grateful because even in our differences, we still have commonalities like we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am influenced also with his beliefs about the “TULIP.” I can somehow see myself in the life of Calvin because I will stand to what I believe in. I am more determined to stand and to tell others what is the truth. The life of Calvin encourages me to really pursue what I am doing now and be willing to learn more just like him.

In knowing John Calvin more, the things that I will gonna do are to share the love of God to other people, to tell to them the truth, and obey what God commanded in His Word. I am encouraged also that I will give an impact to people's lives, an impact that is memorable, and the impact that I will leave to them will become a good testimony. And because of this, people will praise and glorify God because of my life that becomes a blessing to them.

Reflection 7

 Who is Martin Luther? Martin Luther was a theologian, but his thought influenced many other areas. Perhaps his most important cultural contribution was translating the Bible into German. He believed ordinary people had the right to know the Word of God without the intervention of a priest. His vision for the German Bible involved two aspects. First, Luther is widely recognized as one of the great shapers of German language, a profound contribution to his culture. Even the notorious twentieth-century Jewish philosopher, Franz, calls Luther’s translation of the Bible a “sensational fact.” But a translated Bible that no one can read is useless, which leads to the second part of Luther’s literary legacy, and his efforts to educate the German people. Thus did an Augustinian friar decisively influence the education, and the overall development, of his people. As we all know that his influence was very known to all people because he did not only influence them by education but he was also an advocate of Reformation.

As we all know that Reformation brought a new governance model for society. Not surprisingly, the foundations of modern democracy are found there. The reformers had rejected the notion of the government which embodied all authority in one man, the example of this is the pope. Rather,they built a congregational government in their Churches. The brothers would choose their authorities.

With this fact, these are the lessons that we should all take into account just like when dealing with error within the church. It would be wise of us to consider the cost, as uncomfortable as it may be, to “split” from false teaching, error, and heretical doctrines that seem to be spreading even within the evangelical world. In some sense, we should always be reforming ourselves and the church to the Scriptures and what it says in contradistinction from what the culture (the world) and the culture-infiltrated (Christ-less Christian) church says. True reform should start within each individual so that it will influence the other people and the society.

Reflection 6

It was inspiring to know this man who was very kind and so hunger to know what his calling in his life. I was glad also because I was privileged to share about his life to my classmates. And as I was reporting about him, I knew that most of my classmates were inspired too. Who was this person? This person was Martin Nievera- hahaha. I was just kidding; by the way the real name of this person was St. Martin of Tours. As we all know, St. Martin of Tours was born in 316 AD in a present day Hungary of a prominent family. One day, as a young man decorated in the armor and prestige of a royal knight, he was riding his horse and came across a beggar whose clothes were tattered to the point of nudity. Martin tore his cloak in half to cloth the man. He was known at the time to be a natural leader, yet was disposed to such counter-cultural Christian acts of charity. In fact, as bishop, St. Martin preferred to spend time in a solitary hermitage in order to dedicate his life to prayer. He leaves for us an example of servant leadership where all secular or spiritual power is always subject to God from whom all such gifts are bestowed. St. Martin’s dedicated prayer life allowed him to receive power as a gift and use it for God’s greater purpose. Because of his experienced of that beggar, it was his turning point in life wherein he dedicated his life to God and committed to Him that he will serve God in his life.

As I think of Martin, I remembered the time that I surrendered everything to God and committed myself to serve Him. Though I was brought up in a Christian family, but I did not have that right perspective about my calling in the Lord. I just thought that just doing the right thing then that’s enough but it was not. I am amazed how God has been teaching me through using life of another person from history. I learned also to spend time for the Lord and develop my prayer life to Him. I know that it is very essential in my spiritual life especially in my relationship with the Lord. I have learned also from Martin to show kindness and love towards other people. I am encouraged that I will not only show kindness and love to those people whom I know, but even to those people whom I do not know.

With all these learning and realization in life, it is my prayer to really apply it in my life what I have learned. I pray that I will become a wise woman to do what is right and what pleases the Lord. I will show love not only to my family, friends and to those whom I know but I will also try my best to love my enemies also. I accept them who they are and show kindness though some people will find it weird but I know that I am not doing it for the people to see me. I am doing these things because I know that God is watching and He is glorified with my deeds. I will serve with joy like in the church, I will do the ministry. I will remind myself also to submit to those who are in authority because I know that God has used them. It is also my prayer that my life will become a blessing and model to other people.

Reflection 5

I've read and heard this name before but I did not know who really was this person. In this class, I already knew who was this person and what he contributed and his impact to people and this person was Justin Martyr. Who was Justin Martyr? Justin was a highly educated philosopher before and after his conversion to Christianity, and as an educated Christian, he felt it his responsibility to understand the views of those around him and help those outside of the Church understand Christianity as a rational faith and ultimately, as the one true Faith. He wrote two apologies or defenses of Christianity to the Roman authorities in which he explained the beliefs of the Christians, asked that they be treated as equal citizens under the law, and dispelled rumors about the actions of his fellow believers.

But here’s the best part: St. Justin didn’t do this by sending a Bible (there wasn’t one yet, anyway) to the emperor and expecting that he would see things from his perspective. Instead, he took what he knew the Romans knew–pagan cult worship, philosophy, and mythology–and demonstrated how these sources revealed shadows of the Truth that Christians had now come to know fully.

Are we, like St. Justin, looking for the little bits of truth in the world around us? Do we have the discernment of the Spirit to know what from outside the Church can be praised and lifted up as part of God’s intended pattern and which are the distortions that must be rejected? Do we see in every person, especially those who disagree with our Christian faith, the mark of our Maker, His own handiwork, the seeds of His Word? Are we cultivating those seeds with love and gentleness or do we let them lie dormant in our neighbors or worse, try to throw them out as garbage? We can be like Justin Martyr by planting the seed in the lives of the people especially those who do not know Christ that He is the Messiah.

Reflection 4

St. Irenaeus was a second century bishop of Lyons, and a renowned Father of the Church. The circumstances and details about his death, like those of his birth and early life in Asia Minor, are not at all clear. We do know that he was associated with St. Polycarp, who was a disciple of St. John, and who, in a manner, belonged to the Apostolic Age. The Church is fortunate that Irenaeus was involved in many of its controversies in the second century. He was a student, well trained, no doubt, with great patience in investigating, tremendously protective of apostolic teaching, but prompted more by a desire to win over his opponents than to prove them in error. A prolific Christian writer and theologian, Irenaeus had seen and heard the Bishop Polycarp at Smyrna.

We know that he has famous writing in Latin entitled “Adversus haereses,” which was directed against Gnosticism, the heresy then spreading in Gaul and elsewhere. As bishop of Lyons he was especially concerned with the Gnostic, who took their name from the Greek word for “knowledge.” Claiming access to secret knowledge imparted by Jesus to only a few disciples, their teaching was attracting and confusing many Christians. After thoroughly investigating the various Gnostic sects and their “secret,” Irenaeus showed to what logical conclusions their tenets led. The writings of St. Irenaeus entitle him to a high place among the fathers of the Church, for they not only laid the foundations of Christian theology but, by exposing and refuting the errors of the Gnostics, they delivered the Catholic Faith from the real danger of the doctrines of those heretics.

We can see that Irenaeus was very determined to correct those people who had wrong beliefs and teachings. Though it was hard because there are really people who are hard headed and not willing to listen to the truth, but I have learned to be patient and to show compassion to people. I must be willing to love them by telling them what is right and true just like Irenaeus

Reflection 3

Origen was one of the most learned and incomparably the greatest scholar and theologian of the Eastern church in the early centuries and his fame as teacher spread far and wide. He was "the genius of the early church. "Having mastered a full range of pagan philosophy and literature, he could speak as an authority in his own right. No longer pleading for mere toleration by pagan authorities, whether political or intellectual, Origen launched a vigorous counteroffensive. As one of the greatest minds of his age, he debated with pagan philosophers as their superior. He also traveled widely, and became acquainted with Christian leaders throughout the Roman world. His life showed that a brilliant mind and a passionate heart for the Lord. He devoted many hours of each day to prayer and Bible study, strenuously forcing himself to almost unending toil, and living with little sleep and food. He fasted regularly and went about barefoot. In the ancient world, his self-denial served as a powerful form of "lifestyle evangelism.”

I was amazed how Origen dedicated his life in serving God. His life encouraged all of us to be brilliant and a passionate heart for God because that's the will of God in our lives. In our devotion and prayer time also, sometimes we feel so tired and so busy doing something, but his life reminded us to develop our relationship with God through meditation of His word and through prayer. I remembered a person who was very very consistent in his prayer life and I also admired him.

Therefore, I should be in constant communication with God. It is my prayer that God will give me a passionate heart for Him just like Origen and desire to grow in Jesus and be like Him.

Reflection 2

A great Father of the Church is Clement of Alexandria. I want to remember at least two things about St. Clement of Alexandria. First, he is considered one of the pioneers of the dialogue between faith and reason. And the second, it is about the importance of marriage and virginity.

Because of globalization and secularism, the people’s perspective on faith has changed abruptly. An additional ingredient to this change is the fast technological development of the world. People forget that faith is truth itself. This dialogue between faith and reason is only a continuation of what may be the saint of Alexandria has started. Clement of Alexandria is a good example of how we can appropriate faith and reason with each other in our explanation of the contemporary issues of the world. This time it is not much about doctrinal aspects but rather on the means of spreading the faith. The Fathers of the Church have already given us almost all the content of our faith. What we can do now is how in our means of evangelization we can share the importance of faith and reason in the lives of the people. We should do something to help people to enlighten their minds about the role of faith in daily lives. And the concept of marriage is secularized and materialized. Some couples don’t want to be married in the Church. It is always expensive to get married. People tend to forget the spiritual importance of marriage. Moreover, the prevalence of teenage pregnancy is very alarming. So what can we do with this? Therefore, we should do what is the right thing to do so that we will not be misguided. I have learned that we should seek the Lord's guidance so that we will not get easily give in to temptations.